Denethor II (Third Age 2930[1] – 3019,[3] aged 89 years) was the twenty-sixth and penultimate Ruling Steward of Gondor. He succeeded his father Ecthelion II at his death in T.A.2984. Denethor was described as appearing noble and powerful, even to rival the lordliness of Gandalf. He was proud, tall, wise, far-sighted, and valiant; "more kingly" than any of his predecessors for a long time. He proved a masterful lord and a great ruler, seeing to all things large and small under his command.[4]

Denethor was a masterful man, but also a proud one. When a northerner named Thorongil, a year younger, came to Gondor and won Ecthelion's trust and affections, Denethor grew jealous. Thorongil, a war genius and one who looked enough like Ecthelion to be his close kin, won the love of the people, so that Denethor's envy grew. It is possible that he figured out that Thorongil was really Aragorn II, and with Mithrandir wished to supplant him. He was not sorry when Thorongil vanished to the east.[4]

In 2976 he married Finduilas of Dol Amroth, whom he loved deeply, daughter of PrinceAdrahil II of Dol Amroth. She gave birth to two sons: Boromir and Faramir. He doted upon his eldest son, Boromir, while Faramir, his second son, could never please his father nor be seen as Boromir's equal.[4] In the mean time, he studied the lore of Gondor, including the archives that only he and his father could access. Part of his studies were devoted to the lore of the palantíri.[5]

Nine years after his marriage, Ecthelion died and Denethor became Ruling Steward. Denethor was not viewed very highly in the eyes of his people in comparison to Thorongil, and moreover there were already dark rumors of power rising in the east. For these reasons, Denethor looked into the long-forbidden Anor-stone, seeking to surpass Thorongil and Gandalf in wisdom, and to keep an eye on them.[5] Because of the manner of his viewing,[5] he was greatly strained and aged prematurely.[4]

Only three years after the death of Ecthelion, Finduilas died as well. Denethor was grief-stricken, and became more grim and silent.[4]

The palantír showed him much of what he wanted to see, and his knowledge grew exceedingly, so that he was wondered at by the people. But eventually Sauron, looking into the captured Ithil-stone, discovered that Denethor was using the palantír.[5] Sauron attempted to wrench the Anor stone to his will, but failed due to Denethor's strength of will, his integrity, and his right to the use of the stone.[5] But this caused even greater stress upon the steward's already weakened body, coupled by the apparent invincibility of Sauron shown him by the stone. Denethor, meanwhile, looked not only at Mordor, but also probably to Saruman, and extracted information from the wizard to his benefit, which Sauron was helpless to prevent.[5]

He became blind to all struggles save that of him and Sauron, his people and Sauron's Orcs. He mistrusted all others who resisted Sauron but were not under his own rule.[4] He wore mail under his robes, to prevent himself from getting soft in his old age.[6]

Faramir, his youngest, began to have dreams, speaking of Imladris and Isildur's Bane. Denethor distrusted Faramir, who although shrewd as himself, was more gentle than Boromir, and furthermore was a friend of Mithrandir, whom Denethor thought wished to remove him from his seat. Boromir shortly after had the same dream, and convinced his father and brother to let him journey northward and find the meaning. Boromir did not return from his quest; he was shot by Uruk-hai on Amon Hen and Faramir and Denethor both heard the horn of Gondor, several days later his horn was found cloven in two, and was found by watchers below the Entwash, and brought to Denethor. Denethor nearly went mad with grief, and his anger was turned to Faramir, the original recipient of the dream, who in his mind should have gone rather than Boromir.[4]

Thirteen days after Boromir's death, Mithrandir arrived with the hobbitPeregrin Took. Denethor openly vented his rage at first, but at the same time was curiously attracted to the hobbit, a witness of his son's death, questioning him closely and suspiciously. When Peregrin offered his service in return for Boromir's sacrifice, Denethor was pleased and amused. After examining Pippin's barrow-blade, he accepted the hobbit's service courteously. He then confronted Gandalf. While they supped, Gandalf told of the fall of Isengard. Denethor hinted at his own abilities to see what happened in the world. He racked the hobbit with questions for an hour, and then gave his guests lodging.[2]

"No tomb! No long slow sleep of death embalmed. We will burn like heathen kings before ever a ship sailed hither from the West."

― Denethor II

Soon after the Rammas was surrounded and Gondor placed under siege. Faramir returned from errands in Ithilien, and told the story of his encounter with Frodo Baggins, who carried the One Ring on the quest for Mount Doom. Denethor fell into a cold, grim mood, and remained aloof toward Faramir and Gandalf. He let known his feelings about the episode, which were set up against Faramir letting Frodo continuing on the quest, but then moved on to matters of strategy. He decided that while he could not risk sending more men to Cair Andros, he would strengthen the garrison of Osgiliath, leaving his son in charge. Faramir tried to reason with Denethor's strategy and his elevation of the dead Boromir, but it was no use. Denethor admitted coldly and openly that he wished that Faramir was dead and Boromir still lived, and released his son to do his bidding without fondness or farewell.[6]

Faramir recovered the lost ground all the way back to the Anduin, but was soon faced with fresh troops from Minas Morgul and Harad, led by the Witch-king, a master strategist and one of terrible presence. Faramir was driven back to the Causeway Forts, but these fell, and Faramir was forced to retreat having lost a third of his men. The retreat was dogged by the Nazgûl, and Faramir was wounded almost to the death by a southern arrow thought to be a poisoned dart.[6]

Denethor, as the outer defenses of the Pelennor Fields collapsed at many points, looked into the palantír, where he found the Enemy stronger than ever on all fronts, and feared that the Ring was in his hands. Denethor suddenly seemed years older, and his will snapped. He abandoned leadership of the city to Gandalf and Imrahil, staying by his son's side in the White Tower, and bitterly regretting what he had done. Bad news came up from below. Rohan was cut off and could not come to their aid. The first circle was in flames. As this information came up to him, Denethor gave up hope and chose to commit suicide beside his son.[6]

As Grond pounded on the gates of the city he prepared a pyre for him and Faramir in the Rath Dínen. He was hampered in his aim by Beregond, one of his own Guards of the Citadel, and Gandalf, who removed Faramir from the pyre. At first Denethor seemed willing to abandon his suicidal designs, but suddenly he raised up the palantír and prophesied the doom of Gondor. He cursed Gandalf and Aragorn, and then he seized a torch and hurled it on the bier. He took the white rod of his office and broke it on his knee, casting it into the flames, symbolizing the end of his stewardship and the end of the rule of the Stewards. He then laid himself down on the table with the palantír on his breast and so perished.[7]

Faramir did survive, and the city did not fall due to the timely appearance of the Rohirrim and the Dúnedain with Aragorn II.[8] Faramir kept the title of Steward, but not of Ruling Steward, for he recognized Aragorn II right to take the throne, whom Denethor had cursed.[9] Faramir's reaction to his father's death is not recorded.

Denethor, played by John Noble, appears in a flashback in the film's Extended Edition. He appears at Osgiliath shortly after Boromir completes his successful defense of the city against Sauron's forces and tells Boromir of the One Ring being found, urging his son to go attend the Council of Elrond in Rivendell and try to persuade them to bring it back to Gondor so as to use it in defense of their homeland against Sauron. Denethor also makes known his preference of Boromir over Faramir, which would further play out in the next film.

Denethor appears almost entirely devoid of hope and highly irrational after learning of Boromir's death. He demands his remaining son go on essentially a suicide mission to reclaim enemy-captured Osgiliath and stubbornly refuses to light the warning beacons of Gondor to call for the aid of Rohan (Pippin lights it instead at Gandalf's behest). Denethor then claims Théoden betrayed him when Sauron's armies begin attacking Minas Tirith). In the book, the danger of his madness is that it seems to follow a certain logic; Sauron does have vastly superior forces, all of which he has surely shown to the Steward in the palantír. His actions, however, do not immediately proclaim his insanity; the Osgiliath mission is less obviously suicidal, as the city has not yet been overrun, and the warning beacons have indeed been lit, although Denethor expects little help.

When Faramir is brought back from Osgiliath on his horse into the throne room, seemingly dead, Pippin attempts to stop Denethor from cremating his son (and himself with him), who he is sure is still alive. After Denethor knocks Pippin away, he falls onto the fire, and, in flames, runs out of the throne room and off the highest ledge of Minas Tirith, killing himself.